1 C1 idiomatic informal
For body hair to stand erect involuntarily due to fear, cold, or strong emotion.
"The strange sound in the dark made the hair up on the back of his neck."
inseparable
hair up
C1 informal inseparable intransitive
For the hair on the body to stand up as a result of fear, cold, or intense emotion.
In plain English
For your body hair to stand up straight because you are cold, scared, or excited.
What does "hair up" mean?
One main meaning — here's how to use it.
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
For hairs to rise upward, as in piloerection caused by cold or fear.
Actually means
For your body hair to stand up straight because you are cold, scared, or excited.
Usage tip
Relatively rare as a fixed phrasal verb. The more standard expression is 'one's hair stands on end' or 'get goosebumps'. Can also refer literally to putting hair up (styling), though that usage is better captured as a simple verb phrase. Used in British and North American English.
Words that pair with "hair up"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
neck arms skin spine fear chill
How to conjugate "hair up"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
hair up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
hairs up
he/she/it
Past simple
haired up
yesterday
Past participle
haired up
have + pp
-ing form
hairing up
continuous
Hear "hair up" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "hair up" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
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